Beautiful ferry journeys around the British Isles – the perfect alternative to a cruise
Unfortunately for cruise lovers in the UK, Covid-19 has put holidays at sea on hold. While several major cruise lines – including MSC Cruises and Costa Cruises – have restarted sailing (and smaller Scottish ships have taken to the water), British travellers are not welcome on board just yet with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continuing to advise Brits against all cruise ship travel.
However for those of us who are longing to take to the water and have an adventure on the high seas, there is another option: ferry. You’ll be able to breathe in that salty sea air, enjoy some fantastic views, and maybe even watch pods of dolphins playing off the coast.
What’s more, with wide passenger areas, easy access to fresh air and new Covid-19 health and safety protocols in place, ferries offer “a great safe and comfortable way to travel,” according to industry body Discover Ferries.
From quick hops across historic harbours to picturesque ferry rides around Scotland’s stunning Hebridean islands, here are six of our favourite ferry journeys around the UK and Ireland.
Liverpool to Dublin
Pay your respects to the Fab Four – Liverpool produced John, Paul, George and Ringo and the city remains a pilgrimage site for those afflicted with Beatlemania – or enjoy a (socially distanced) tour of Anfield, home of the current Premier League champions, before hopping onboard a ferry to the Fair City.
P&O, which operates the route, offers both a regular day and overnight service between the two cities that takes just over eight hours – meaning the journey really will feel like a mini-cruise. Two free meals are included in the ticket price and passengers can take their cars, allowing them to explore more of the Emerald Isle’s capital upon crossing the Irish Sea.
Ardrossan to Brodick, Arran
North of the border there’s plenty of breathing space, particularly on the Isle of Arran, the jewel in Scotland’s crown. Dubbed 'Scotland in Miniature' by locals thanks to its granite mountains, ruined castles, caves, snaking single-track roads dotted with sheep, wooded glens, impressive waterfalls, windswept shores and whisky distillers, Arran is reached via a 55-minute ferry ride from the port of Ardrossan, to the southwest of Glasgow.
The crossing with CalMac Ferries takes 55 minutes, and passengers are able to see Goatfell, the highest peak on the Isle of Arran at 2,866 feet, as they approach on the ferry.
Southampton to the Isle of Wight
The Red Funnel ferry ride from Southampton to Cowes takes a mere 40 minutes – the joke among regulars being that the 40-minute crossing takes you back 40 years. Make no mistake: the Isle of Wight is one glorious time warp.
Drink in the breathtaking views across the Solent before docking and passing pretty villages, grand turreted Victorian mansions, fossil studded cliffs, road signs reading “Red squirrels” or “Badgers”, and beautiful bays dappled in sunlight. The island enjoys more than 37 hours of sunshine per week compared with a national average of around 30. Sailing is one of the island’s biggest draws but there’s plenty on offer for those who don’t fancy getting wet, from mountain-biking to beautiful walking routes.
Liverpool to the Isle of Man
“The journey, not the destination matters”. So said T.S. Eliot and it’s hard to disagree with the poet following a boat ride from Liverpool to the Isle of Man – a ‘tax haven’ too beautiful to leave solely to bankers and businessmen – onboard the 96-metre wave piercing catamaran, Manannan. Those looking to travel in the ultimate comfort will want to book a premium or executive lounge. Alternatively take advantage of two cinema lounges, a large café bar at the stern and the Coast-to-Coast café.
Manannan departs from Liverpool between March and November but the island currently remains closed to non-residents without special permission due to coronavirus, though that could soon change. When the borders do reopen, be sure to cross the Irish Sea and discover the sleepy island, with some of the darkest skies in British waters and locations coveted as a film set by Hollywood, for yourself.
Oban Bay to South Uist
If watching wildlife on deck floats your boat, consider a ferry ride between Scotland's stunning Hebridean islands where whales, dolphins and seals are regular sightings on the waves. Arguably the most scenic of Scotland’s many spectacular ferry journeys is the one from Oban Bay to the island of South Uist, courtesy of CalMac. En route you’ll pass the islands of Lismore and Mull, both set against a backdrop of soaring mountains and rolling hills.
Other highlights from the water include Duart Castle, perched atop a rock overlooking the sea; the bay of Tobermory which shot to fame in the BBC children’s television series Balamory and the lighthouse at Ardnamurchan Point. Towards the end of the five hour voyage, you'll be able to gaze at the empty, white-sand beaches of Barra before anchoring at Lochboisdale in South Uist.
Mallaig to Armadale, Isle of Skye
Immortalised in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse, the lobster-shaped Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye is synonymous with sparkling lochs, miles of dramatic coastline, historic villages and the famous Fairy Pools – one of the most popular sights in Scotland.
Skye’s iconic landscapes are undoubtedly it’s main selling point but when the mist closes in (not for nothing is Skye known as Scotland’s Misty Isle), there are plenty of castles and cosy pubs and restaurants to seek refuge in.
It’s possible to drive to Kyle of Lochalsh and cross to Skye via the bridge. However by far the most atmospheric way of reaching the island is via a short ferry journey from Mallaig on the west coast of the scottish mainland, which affords the opportunity to sing the famous Skye boat song. This traditional Scottish folk tune tells the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his escape to Skye after the Battle of Culloden in 1746:
“Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry.
Carry the lad that’s born to be King
Over the sea to Skye.”
